December 20, 2018 — The Church of the Gesù in Montréal has announced a beautiful program of events for the Christmas season: liturgical celebrations, the installation of the creche, Christmas concerts, choirs, recitals and story-telling.

A hand-crafted creche created by the L’Arche community

From December 25 to January 9, you will be able to view the creche of The Gesù, created by members of the L’Arche Montreal community, with the support of painter Marie Roberge. The various people and animals of the creche were created by the members of the Alizé studio. The theme of this year’s creche is God with us in nature. “In the forest, a child is born. In the silence of the woods, Nature has made herself beautiful to celebrate this newborn, who carries the promise of a new world. Let us imagine this forest at its most beautiful to welcome this long-awaited child. Together we are going to create the space to receive this tiny symbol of a new world, a world of love, peace and harmony.”

The creche will be unveiled during the vigil Mass on December 24. On January 9, the core members and assistants from L’Arche will come to the Gesù to present their creche and to share their impressions of this artistic and spiritual project.

Two Christmas concerts

On December 16, François Zeitouni, organist of the Church of the Gesù, and actor Jean-François Beauvais presented a concert inspired by a Christmas story of Alphonse Daudet, called Les Trois Messes Basses (The Three Low Masses).

Liturgical celebrations

Christmas Vigil Mass: The traditional Christmas vigil mass will be celebrated on December 24, at 9:00 pm. The choir of The Gesù will be present and will be joined in song by the Jesuit novices. Before the mass there will be a free concert at 8:30 pm. After the liturgical celebration, there will be a reception at The Gesù.

Christmas morning Mass: The solemn Christmas Mass will be celebrated in the morning at 11:00. The music will be led by the Super Christmas Choir, under the direction of Hubert Tanguay-Labrosse, accompanied on the organ by François Zeitouni. The choir will sing “some of our most beautiful carols to enrich the liturgy of Christmas morning.”

Year-end Mass: A year-end mass will take place on December 31 at 10:30 am. This will be the occasion to thank the Lord for the year 2018 and to start 2019 in a spirit of hope and blessing.

New Year’s Mass: On January 1, there will be a eucharistic celebration in honour of Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church.

May 23, 2019 — “The Jesuits first had to learn to say: “We are responsible,” then “We are sorry,” and finally, “We need your help.” This is how Fr. Peter Bisson, SJ, summarizes the evolving relations between the Jesuits and indigenous peoples.

May 23, 2019 — Humility, communion, and renunciation are three "essential elements" for the Church to go forward, Pope Francis sayd in his homily during Mass with representatives of Caritas Internationalis.

Father Jean-Marie Rocheleau died on May 20, 2019, in the infirmary of Richelieu. He was in his 101st year and in religious life for 84 years. He is known to host the "Radio Sacré-Cœur" programs. He dedicated himself to giving the Spiritual Exercises to religious sisters, especially in Quebec.